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CVE Record

CVE-2025-5222: Icu: stack buffer overflow in the srbroot::addtag function

A stack buffer overflow was found in Internationl components for unicode (ICU ). While running the genrb binary, the 'subtag' struct overflowed at the SRBRoot::addTag function. This issue may lead to memory corruption and local arbitrary code execution.

HighCVSS 7Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-5222 is a stack buffer overflow in ICU, a widely used Unicode library. The known issue is triggered while running the genrb tool and may corrupt memory or allow local arbitrary code execution. It is serious, but the source bundle indicates local access, high attack complexity, and required user interaction.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for affected enterprise Linux and product environments, especially build infrastructure. The business risk is local code execution through a common library tool, not a confirmed remote internet-wide exploit.

Technical view

The flaw is CWE-120 in ICU's SRBRoot::addTag path, where a subtag structure can overflow during genrb execution. CVSS 3.1 is 7.0 with local attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, required user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on systems or build pipelines with affected ICU packages that run genrb, especially Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9, 10, RHCOS/OpenShift, Debian LTS, or Siemens-listed environments.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation appears local and input-dependent, requiring someone or something to run genrb in a vulnerable context.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for ICU genrb and Red Hat affected product mapping. The bundle does not provide exploit proof, complete upstream fix details, or all downstream fixed versions, so validation should stay vendor-advisory driven.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor ICU updates from applicable Red Hat, Debian, or Siemens advisories.
  • Check vendor guidance for fixed package versions before closing remediation.
  • Avoid processing untrusted ICU resource inputs with genrb until updated.
  • Prioritize shared build systems, containers, and OpenShift/RHCOS nodes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory ICU and mingw-icu package versions across affected Linux estates.
  • Identify systems or pipelines that invoke genrb.
  • Check RHEL, RHCOS, Debian LTS, and Siemens advisory applicability.
  • Confirm remediation against vendor advisory package status.
  • Document unknown exposure for RHEL 6 and 7 separately.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-120: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Container behavior lookup

The affected technology mentions containers, so container-specific ATT&CK technique review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-5222 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
3ADP providers
11Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9redhat

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-5222Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  2. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  3. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
CVECVE Program Container
siemens-SADPADP container

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Unknown vendoricuicu, 0unaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10icu, 0:74.2-5.el10_0affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9icu, 0:67.1-10.el9_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9icu, 0:67.1-10.el9_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Update Services for SAP Solutionsicu, 0:67.1-10.el9_0affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutionsicu, 0:67.1-10.el9_2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Supporticu, 0:67.1-10.el9_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6icuunknown
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7icuunknown
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8icuaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8mingw-icuaffected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4rhcosaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-120

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-120 · source CWE mapping

Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs